Brookside star Marian Diamond dies, aged 89 – Miriam Margolyes shares emotional tribute

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Brookside star Marian Diamond has died at the age of 89.

The actress died on January 5th at University College Hospital. She was also well-known for her unique voice work on numerous BBC radio and television programs.

Miriam Margolyes, a close friend and colleague, confirmed the news of her death and shared a heartfelt tribute online.

Margolyes announced on Facebook that her close friend, Marian Diamond, unexpectedly passed away last Monday at University College Hospital in London. Diamond was 89 years old.

“We first met in Edinburgh, I think in 1968 at the Traverse Theatre, and I loved her from then on.”

Diamond was famous for her unique voice and was a storyteller on the BBC’s children’s show, Jackanory. She also provided the voice for the character Galadriel in the BBC’s 1981 radio version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

She began her career as one of the first presenters on the beloved children’s program Play School. She then enjoyed a diverse acting career, appearing in popular shows like The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, and The Idiot, and later took roles in series such as The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Doctors, and The Armando Iannucci Shows.

She also played Mrs Shackleton in Brookside for a number of episodes in the 1990s.

Margolyes remembered Diamond as a truly kind and supportive person in the entertainment industry. She was known for her generosity, genuine interest in others, and delight in celebrating their achievements. Those who knew her also described her as beautiful, gentle, funny, and insightful.

She expressed feeling completely heartbroken, saying a truly special person was taken from them far too soon. This loss was particularly painful as it followed the deaths of her sister, casting director Gillian Diamond, and close friend, actor Hugh Dickson, both of whom passed away in 2018.

I was so saddened to hear about Gillian. She’s left behind two sons, and I really hope they’ll let her friends know about the funeral arrangements. She was such a special person and deserves a huge turnout to celebrate her life. And Marian, just know that I’ll always carry you in my heart.

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Paul R. Jackson, author of ‘Here’s A House – A Celebration of Play School,’ shared news of the passing of his friend Marian Diamond on social media, noting she died on January 5th at the age of 89.

She was a beloved actress who appeared on television for five decades, and one of the original hosts of the children’s program Play School when it began in 1964. She generously supported my efforts to preserve the show’s history for over 35 years and will be deeply missed for her kindness.

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Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.

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2026-01-14 20:07